Science Friday: How Science Works Edition

Welcome to another edition of Science Friday. This week, we will take an interesting new look at the world of science. Instead of just reporting the news, I thought we’d dive into something deeper. In today’s edition, you’ll learn how a rocket launch works, why superconductors are useful, why fluorine is so cool, and why volcanoes blow up where they do. All this and more in today’s How Science Works edition!

High-Speed Launch of Apollo 11
This video has become pretty popular all over the web since it was first uploaded, but it is certainly worth talking about. This video is by far the best explanation I have ever seen of how a rocket launch really works. The narrator explains every little detail over 8 1/2 minutes of high-speed video taken during the launch of Apollo 11 (the first successful landing of men on the moon). The actual time shown in this video is about 30 seconds.

Superconductors and Their Real World Applications
Many of you have probably seen the old super-cooled floating magnet bit, but videos of superconductors rarely come with good scientific explanation. This video from the University of Cambridge not only shows the cool magic trick, but scientists explain the science behind it and why superconduction is a useful property.

Fluorine and Why It’s So Awesome
Fluorine. Probably not an element you spend a lot of time thinking about. Most people know nothing about it, but Fluorine is one of the most reactive elements on the periodic table. This video, from a series of YouTube videos about elements in the periodic table, shows the awesome power of F. And, you can’t beat science lessons from a guy with hair like this!

Volcanoes and Plate Tectonics in Iceland
Iceland has been all over the news this year with its unpronounceable volcano hogging all of the air space for passenger planes. But, why does Iceland have so many volcanoes anyway? Iceland is very unique in that it is the only place in the world where a spreading center (a place where two tectonic plates are spreading apart) can be seen on land. Check out this video for a detailed explanation.

#FollowFriday

If you are on Twitter, you know there are plenty of amazing people out there tweeting away. And, many of them are scientists! Every Friday I’ll be bringing you a new list of great scientists, techies, and trekkies to follow on Twitter. This week…

• @neiltyson: Astrophysicist, American Museum of Natural History. Author: The Pluto Files, Death By Black Hole. Host: PBS NOVA scienceNOW
• @MarsCuriosity: The next mission to Mars. I launch in 2011!
• @volcanotweet: Updates on volcanic activity from around the world and the latest in volcanic research.

TrekMovie’s Science Friday is an homage the the great NPR radio show Science Friday. Science Friday® is a registered service mark of ScienceFriday Inc.